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World Cup 2014: Rafael Márquez Sets Mark as Mexico’s Captain World Cup 2014: Rafael Márquez Sets Mark as Mexico’s Captain
(2 months later)
NATAL, Brazil — With one arm folded across his chest, Rafael Márquez of Mexico stood in the pouring rain and belted out his country’s national anthem. Moments later, he was cruising around the drenched field, influencing play in his typical subtle ways, helping lead his team to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon. NATAL, Brazil — With one arm folded across his chest, Rafael Márquez of Mexico stood in the pouring rain and belted out his country’s national anthem. Moments later, he was cruising around the drenched field, influencing play in his typical subtle ways, helping lead his team to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon.
Afterward, in a suit and tie, with flecks of gray visible in his sideburns, he answered questions from reporters with a familiar calm.Afterward, in a suit and tie, with flecks of gray visible in his sideburns, he answered questions from reporters with a familiar calm.
There may not have been much fanfare during that game here on Friday, but Márquez, 35, had revised the record book, becoming the first player in the 84-year history of the World Cup to have worn a captain’s armband at four consecutive tournaments.There may not have been much fanfare during that game here on Friday, but Márquez, 35, had revised the record book, becoming the first player in the 84-year history of the World Cup to have worn a captain’s armband at four consecutive tournaments.
It was a giant achievement on its own, a symbol of Márquez’s stature and longevity. But it was even more impressive given how unlikely it seemed just a short while ago.It was a giant achievement on its own, a symbol of Márquez’s stature and longevity. But it was even more impressive given how unlikely it seemed just a short while ago.
In 2012, the Red Bulls released Márquez by mutual agreement after deciding they were better off without him. As he returned to Mexico to play in León, his international career seemed finished, too; he was in the midst of a 15-month period without a call-up to the Mexican national team.In 2012, the Red Bulls released Márquez by mutual agreement after deciding they were better off without him. As he returned to Mexico to play in León, his international career seemed finished, too; he was in the midst of a 15-month period without a call-up to the Mexican national team.
On Friday, an American reporter asked Márquez if, having been written off by many, he had ever doubted he would be at another World Cup. Márquez, a capable but sometimes reluctant English speaker, tilted his head.On Friday, an American reporter asked Márquez if, having been written off by many, he had ever doubted he would be at another World Cup. Márquez, a capable but sometimes reluctant English speaker, tilted his head.
“Well, I’m here,” Márquez said. “Nobody gave me this, like a gift. I worked a lot to be here.”“Well, I’m here,” Márquez said. “Nobody gave me this, like a gift. I worked a lot to be here.”
If Márquez, a sophisticated and technically brilliant defender, is not the best player in Mexico’s history — in his countrymen’s eyes, Hugo Sánchez still probably holds that title — he is certainly the most decorated.If Márquez, a sophisticated and technically brilliant defender, is not the best player in Mexico’s history — in his countrymen’s eyes, Hugo Sánchez still probably holds that title — he is certainly the most decorated.
After starting his professional career at age 17 with the Mexican club Atlas, Márquez moved to France and won a league title with A.S. Monaco. In 2003, he signed with Barcelona, and he spent seven seasons with the club during a time when it was widely considered one of the best in history. There, he won two Champions League titles and four Spanish league championships.After starting his professional career at age 17 with the Mexican club Atlas, Márquez moved to France and won a league title with A.S. Monaco. In 2003, he signed with Barcelona, and he spent seven seasons with the club during a time when it was widely considered one of the best in history. There, he won two Champions League titles and four Spanish league championships.
“For Mexicans, it was something to brag about, knowing a Mexican was playing in the best club in the world,” said William Yarbrough, 25, a León teammate who watched Márquez on television while growing up in Aguascalientes, Mexico. “He gets mobbed at airports, but he signs every autograph and takes every picture, as many as he can.”“For Mexicans, it was something to brag about, knowing a Mexican was playing in the best club in the world,” said William Yarbrough, 25, a León teammate who watched Márquez on television while growing up in Aguascalientes, Mexico. “He gets mobbed at airports, but he signs every autograph and takes every picture, as many as he can.”
The shine dimmed when he signed to play in Major League Soccer just after the 2010 World Cup. The Red Bulls gave him a contract worth $4.6 million per season, but internally, the club harbored some worries about marketing him to its fans.The shine dimmed when he signed to play in Major League Soccer just after the 2010 World Cup. The Red Bulls gave him a contract worth $4.6 million per season, but internally, the club harbored some worries about marketing him to its fans.
Even Mexican fans will acknowledge that Márquez, for all of his elegance on the field, has a perplexing tendency for violent outbursts, which have often been directed at American players. The Red Bulls figured he might get an unusually short leash from the public. Márquez ultimately reaffirmed many of the preconceived notions about him, often in ridiculous fashion.Even Mexican fans will acknowledge that Márquez, for all of his elegance on the field, has a perplexing tendency for violent outbursts, which have often been directed at American players. The Red Bulls figured he might get an unusually short leash from the public. Márquez ultimately reaffirmed many of the preconceived notions about him, often in ridiculous fashion.
Márquez started a brawl during the 2011 playoffs when he threw a ball at Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy, drawing a red card and a two-game suspension. His M.L.S. tenure ended, somewhat appropriately, after he received another red card, in the 2012 playoffs. (The Red Bulls then negotiated the buyout of his contract.)Márquez started a brawl during the 2011 playoffs when he threw a ball at Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy, drawing a red card and a two-game suspension. His M.L.S. tenure ended, somewhat appropriately, after he received another red card, in the 2012 playoffs. (The Red Bulls then negotiated the buyout of his contract.)
Over his two-plus seasons in M.L.S., he played in only about half his team’s games because of injuries and suspensions. He did not interact much with his teammates, who privately found him aloof. The physicality of the M.L.S. game clearly did not suit him; he always looked a step slow.Over his two-plus seasons in M.L.S., he played in only about half his team’s games because of injuries and suspensions. He did not interact much with his teammates, who privately found him aloof. The physicality of the M.L.S. game clearly did not suit him; he always looked a step slow.
In another disastrous incident, he publicly criticized his teammates after a bad loss, saying they were not on his level. That created tension in the locker room that took weeks to dissolve and earned him a suspension from the team.In another disastrous incident, he publicly criticized his teammates after a bad loss, saying they were not on his level. That created tension in the locker room that took weeks to dissolve and earned him a suspension from the team.
“He was painted as a villain, but he’s no different than all the other top players in the world, doing whatever it takes to win,” said Tim Ream, a former Red Bulls player whom Márquez singled out for criticism. “Even at 33 or 34, I think it was all still a learning experience for him.”“He was painted as a villain, but he’s no different than all the other top players in the world, doing whatever it takes to win,” said Tim Ream, a former Red Bulls player whom Márquez singled out for criticism. “Even at 33 or 34, I think it was all still a learning experience for him.”
Márquez said in an interview with ESPN Deportes last month that going to play in the United States was “a bad decision.” He said that he had misjudged the arc of his career, believing it was declining faster than it was, and that he regretted declining offers from European clubs.Márquez said in an interview with ESPN Deportes last month that going to play in the United States was “a bad decision.” He said that he had misjudged the arc of his career, believing it was declining faster than it was, and that he regretted declining offers from European clubs.
Márquez already seemed out of the national team picture when he began playing for León. But the national team struggled under José Manuel de la Torre, the coach at the time, while Márquez was having a stirring revival, leading León to its first title in Mexico’s top league in more than two decades.Márquez already seemed out of the national team picture when he began playing for León. But the national team struggled under José Manuel de la Torre, the coach at the time, while Márquez was having a stirring revival, leading León to its first title in Mexico’s top league in more than two decades.
“Always I want more and more and more,” Márquez said Friday. “I’ve tried to do my best. I tried to do my best for the team. That’s everything.”“Always I want more and more and more,” Márquez said Friday. “I’ve tried to do my best. I tried to do my best for the team. That’s everything.”
With Mexico in danger last year of failing to qualify for the World Cup, de la Torre and his successor, Luis Fernando Tena, were fired. Márquez was finally invited back to the team by Victor Manuel Vucetich, Mexico’s third coach in 2013. Vucetich was ultimately released, too, but Márquez remained on the team under Coach Miguel Herrera.With Mexico in danger last year of failing to qualify for the World Cup, de la Torre and his successor, Luis Fernando Tena, were fired. Márquez was finally invited back to the team by Victor Manuel Vucetich, Mexico’s third coach in 2013. Vucetich was ultimately released, too, but Márquez remained on the team under Coach Miguel Herrera.
After Mexico secured a World Cup berth, Herrera singled out Márquez in January as the only player with a surefire spot on the World Cup roster. The show of faith completed a stunning two-year turnaround for Márquez.After Mexico secured a World Cup berth, Herrera singled out Márquez in January as the only player with a surefire spot on the World Cup roster. The show of faith completed a stunning two-year turnaround for Márquez.
“Today, Márquez is the single most important leader in our national team,” said Alfredo Domínguez Muro, a soccer commentator in Mexico.“Today, Márquez is the single most important leader in our national team,” said Alfredo Domínguez Muro, a soccer commentator in Mexico.
It is clear in Brazil that small bruises from the rough qualification campaign linger, and the Mexican team’s main shortcoming could be that it has not had much time to coalesce. This, many point out, makes Márquez’s presence all the more crucial.It is clear in Brazil that small bruises from the rough qualification campaign linger, and the Mexican team’s main shortcoming could be that it has not had much time to coalesce. This, many point out, makes Márquez’s presence all the more crucial.
“He’s a man with experience and a man who knows how to talk with us,” defender Miguel Layún said. “It’s really important, the job he has at this World Cup.”“He’s a man with experience and a man who knows how to talk with us,” defender Miguel Layún said. “It’s really important, the job he has at this World Cup.”
Mexico, which will face Brazil on Tuesday in Fortaleza, has adopted the phrase “make history” as a sort of World Cup mantra.Mexico, which will face Brazil on Tuesday in Fortaleza, has adopted the phrase “make history” as a sort of World Cup mantra.
But Márquez has already done it.But Márquez has already done it.